Conservation groups partner to protect South Saluda River tract

GREENVILLE COUNTY – A partnership between two Greenville-based conservation groups has led to the protection of a 27-acre strip of land along the South Saluda River in northern Greenville County, it was announced Monday.

Owned and maintained by Naturaland Trust and now part of a conservation agreement with Upstate Forever, the property is sandwiched between U.S. Hwy. 11 and the river near the Greenville-Pickens county line, where Hwy. 276 splits off toward Caesars Head State Park. 

Known as the Jones Tree Farm tract, it is adjacent to and just upstream from the site where the two groups, along with others, collectively worked to restore a 3,000-foot section of the river in 2011. The newly protected parcel includes about 3/4 of a mile of river/highway frontage.

It was also announced Monday that a 33-acre tract adjacent to Keowee-Toxaway State Park on U.S. Hwy. 11 in Pickens County was protected through a similar partnership between the two groups. The property, which is primarily forested, provides significant habitat for wildlife and includes a little over 6/10 of a mile of highway frontage.

Upstate Forever now permanently protects a total of 18,316 acres on 95 properties across the Upstate through conservation agreements, according to the group's website.

On the Web: Upstate Forever ι Naturaland Trust